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Have you met Michelle Mansfield, author of The Honest Mom Project and host of The Honest Mom podcast?  Let me introduce you to one of the most “real” women you will ever meet.  Unafraid of the narrative that the journey to motherhood should be bliss, Michelle tackles topics that shatter the shame most women feel when questioning the expectations in their lives as mothers.  My love for tackling taboo topics combined with her no-holds-barred style of interviewing led...

I was honored to be a guest on the FemPower Health Podcast.  Georgie Kovacs is an amazing host, and her passion for women’s health seeps through the airwaves.  She interviews experts worldwide on various topics, including hormones, sex, mental health, period issues, birth control, the menstrual cycle, fertility, and pleasure (just to name a few).  

I was privileged to discuss Diastasis Rectus Abdominus (DRA) during our time together.  DRA refers to an abnormal...

I’ve heard hundreds of stories of people recounting their parents giving them “the talk.” Some involved hushed conversations in bedrooms after a child asked a question during family movie night.  One that sticks out in my mind is the gentleman who vividly remembers his dad making a dirty martini and swirling it around and awkwardly sipping from it as he attempted to talk about sex.  Many don’t recall the talk because it just never happened! 

As a...

There are so many misconceptions when it comes to comprehensive sex education.  And what people don’t understand, they fear.  What they fear, they judge as evil.  What they judge as evil, they attempt to control.  And what they cannot control, they attack or argue against.  It’s a vicious and unproductive cycle.  

Let’s start with some facts. 

In February of 2021, the Illinois General Assembly introduced a bill (0818) reforming sex...

Have you heard the phrase, “Be careful not to plan for the wedding and forget about the marriage”?  Well, we often treat postpartum recovery much the same way. 

So many women pour all their attention into the birth process, but the 4^th trimester (or first 40 days after delivery) is sometimes an afterthought. 

Planning ahead is essential to a healthy postpartum recovery.

Maybe in years past you could have gotten away with just taking it day-by-day and figuring it...

As a Women’s Health Physical Therapist and Movement Specialist, I have access to hundreds of exercise programs from Yoga to Cross Fit and Barre to Tabata.  When women ask me what the best form of exercise to participate in during pregnancy, my answer is the same every time. 

Prenatal Pilates, hands down. 

If you’re not already a believer, or if you’re not really sure what Pilates even is, or if you’ve stumbled upon this blog and are just looking for a...

When most women find out they are pregnant, they think twice about what they feed their body and baby, striving for high nutritional value.  Sometimes they crave nutrient-dense food; other times it’s mashed potatoes and ice cream.  Like everything in life, there’s room for both, and finding a good balance is best.  The same is true for movement. 

What is your appetite for movement? 

If you crave intense, heart-pumping cardio, you may need to build in...

Teaser alert: It’s NOT just more Kegels!

I’m sorry you caught me hot under the collar because, while researching for this post, I got lost in a rabbit hole of well-intentioned blogs steering women in the opposite way. 

Lucky for me, I have a breadcrumb trail to find my way back that includes a Master of Science degree in physical therapy, 15+ years of treating pregnant women, and countless exercise specialist certifications. Oh, and I own a vagina that has birthed three...

The second you get the positive results, whether it’s a missed period, peeing on a stick, a urine test from your doctor’s office, or bloodwork, or an ultrasound….you become acutely aware that the decisions you make affect more than just you.  From what you eat and drink (to what you can no longer eat and drink) to how much sleep you get or how much weight you lift, you don’t want to do anything to hurt the baby.  And if you’ve ever experienced a...

The benefits of exercising during pregnancy are indisputable.  Back pain reduction, easing constipation, decreasing your risk of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and Cesarian delivery are only a few benefits.  But there’s also the promotion of healthy weight gain in pregnancy and help with losing the baby weight afterward. 

I always advise women to pick exercise programs that bring them happiness and joy instead of dreading the movement.  You have many choices...